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This donut bread pudding is what happens when a bakery box meets comfort food. It is rich, soft in the middle, lightly crisp on top, and loaded with flavor from the very first bite. If you have ever stared at leftover donuts and thought there had to be a better use for them, this is it.
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I love recipes that feel a little indulgent but are still easy to pull off. This donut bread pudding checks both boxes without needing anything fancy. It is the kind of dessert that works just as well for brunch as it does after dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
One of the best things about donut bread pudding is how forgiving it is. Glazed donuts already bring sweetness and texture, so the custard does not need to be complicated. Everything bakes together into something that feels homemade and comforting.
This recipe also uses an 8x8 pan, which makes it perfect for smaller gatherings. You still get generous portions without committing to a huge dessert. It reheats well too, which is never a bad thing.
Ingredients And Tools
You do not need much to make this donut bread pudding, and chances are you already have most of it on hand. The donuts are the star, and everything else is there to build a rich custard around them.
Ingredients
- 8 Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts, cut into quarters
- 1 ½ C Heavy Cream
- ½ C Coffee Creamer
- 3 Large Eggs
- ½ C Granulated Sugar
- ¼ C Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon Unsalted Butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Tools
- 8x8 Baking Dish
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups And Spoons
How To Make Donut Bread Pudding
Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lightly greasing an 8x8 baking dish. This helps keep the bottom from sticking and makes cleanup easier. Cut the donuts into quarters so they soak up the custard evenly.
Spread the donut pieces out in the baking dish in a single layer. It is fine if they overlap a little. Once baked, everything settles together.
Make The Custard
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, coffee creamer, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Keep whisking until everything is smooth and well combined. This is what turns simple donuts into a true donut bread pudding.
Pour the custard evenly over the donuts. Use your hands or the back of a spoon to gently press the donuts down so they soak everything up. This step makes a big difference in texture.
Rest And Bake
Let the donut bread pudding rest for about 15 minutes before baking. This gives the donuts time to absorb the custard and helps everything cook evenly. Do not skip this step.
Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until the center is just set and the top is golden. You want it soft but not soupy in the middle. A little jiggle is fine.
Rest Before Serving
Once it comes out of the oven, let the donut bread pudding rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This helps it firm up slightly and makes it easier to serve. The smell alone will test your patience here.
Serving Ideas And Variations
This donut bread pudding is great on its own, but toppings take it to another level. Vanilla ice cream melting over the warm pudding is hard to beat. Whipped cream or a light caramel drizzle also works really well.
If you want a crispier top, slide the dish under the broiler for 60 to 90 seconds at the end. Keep a close eye on it since the sugar from the donuts can brown fast. That little bit of crunch adds great contrast.
You can also change things up by using flavored coffee creamer. Vanilla, caramel, or cinnamon creamer all work without overpowering the donuts. It is an easy way to tweak the flavor without changing the recipe.
Pro Tips And Recipe Notes
Glazed donuts already bring plenty of sweetness, so resist the urge to add more sugar. This donut bread pudding is meant to be rich, not overwhelming. The balance is what makes it so good.
If your donuts are very fresh and soft, the texture will be more custardy. Slightly stale donuts will give you a firmer bread pudding. Both versions are great, so use what you have.
This recipe makes about 8 servings in an 8x8 pan. You can cut smaller pieces for brunch or larger portions for dessert. Either way, it disappears fast.
Wrapping Up
Donut bread pudding is one of those recipes that feels special without trying too hard. It uses simple ingredients and turns them into something people actually talk about after the meal. That is always a win in my book.
If you end up making this, serve it warm and enjoy every bite. This donut bread pudding is proof that sometimes the best desserts start with leftovers.
Watch Me Make It
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- Cherry Pie Smoked Cream Cheese - Perfect BBQ Dessert
- S'mores Cookie Muffins
- Strawberry Shortcake Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 8 Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts cut into quarters
- 1 ½ C Heavy Cream
- ½ C Coffee Creamer
- 3 Large Eggs
- ½ C Granulated Sugar
- ¼ C Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon Unsalted Butter melted
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish.
- Add the quartered donuts to the pan, spreading them evenly.
- In a bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, eggs, sugars, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Pour the custard evenly over the donuts and gently press them down so they soak.
- Let rest for 15 minutes to fully absorb.
- Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, until the center is just set and the top is golden.
- Rest for 5–10 minutes before glazing.
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